API implementation

You can use JavaScript APIs to extend application server and client functionality. Use web services to connect ServiceNow applications to other software applications.

<table id=“table_iwv_lpv_klb” class=“nav-card”><tbody><tr><td>

Scripts[Omitted image “bus-start-developing.svg”] Alt text: Extend application server and client functionality.

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Web services [Omitted image “bus-rocketship.svg”] Alt text: Communicate between ServiceNow and third-party applications.

</td></tr></tbody> </table>## Scripts

Use Server JavaScript APIs in scripts to change application functionality or create applications. Use client-side JavaScript APIs to control aspects of how an instance is displayed and functions within the web browser.

Common use cases:

• Calculate durations to give users a way to specify when a task or process is due.

• Display prompts with alerts, confirmations, or other messages.

• Implement event logging at different output levels, such as debug, info, warning, and error.

• Query, update, create, and delete records.

• Validate the input of all date and time fields.

Web services

Use inbound (provider) and outbound (consumer) web services enable diverse applications to exchange information.

Common use cases:

• Use REST API request information from ServiceNow instances in third-party applications.

• Create scripted REST APIs for custom requests that aren’t available in the provided ServiceNow REST APIs.

• Create a custom GraphQL API to query record data from a component or a third-party system.

• Use the open database connectivity (ODBC) driver for read-only access to the database associated with your instance.

• Use domain separation to separate data, processes, and administrative tasks into logical groups.